Law professor and PSC Faculty Associate, J.J. Prescott has earned this year’s Distinguished University Innovator Award For developing technology that’s helping to democratize the justice system while decreasing the spread of COVID-19, The award honors faculty who have developed transformative ideas, processes or technologies and shepherded them to market.Years ago, Prescott launched the U-M Online Court Project to design and build technology to help people facing warrants, fines and minor charges resolve their disputes with the government and courts online and without the need to hire an attorney.This technology went on to become the basis for Matterhorn, a free platform made available by courts that allows vulnerable litigants of all sorts to resolve their legal cases entirely online.Today, citizens can use Matterhorn as an alternative to in-person hearings in family courts, small claims courts and in general jurisdiction courts, such as resolving landlord-tenant disputes.